Majority happy to have Covid test if advised by a health professional

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

An overwhelming majority of voters in The Herald's web poll this week said they would take a Covid test if a health professional said they should. The question, Will you take a Covid test if a health professional says you should? had 82 percent, or 326, vote yes. A total of 398 people voted.

Only 16 percent (62 ) said they would not take a Covid test if advised to, and two percent , or 10 voters, opted for “don't know”.

One “yes” voter said it should be mandatory if a health professional deemed it necessary.

Another “yes” voter said they would unless they had a very good reason not to.

The only “no” voter to leave a comment says: “Do you think I'm stupid or something? I am not 90 and I don't live in a rest home.”

Covid-19 testing capabilities in Tairawhiti were boosted on Thursday after delays the previous day. This was after the Prime Minister's announcement on Tuesday night that the country was going into Alert Level 2, and Auckland to Alert Level 3.

An average of 25 people a day have been swabbed in Tairawhiti in past weeks.

On Wednesday,120 people were swabbed.